Richmond, CA ·
Although the Bernie surge is real, today’s New York Times notes that so far in this primary season about 3 million fewer Democrats have voted in the 15 states with caucuses or primaries through Super Tuesday, than voted up to this point in 2008. Democratic voting dropped by roughly 50 percent in Minnesota and Texas; in Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia it dropped by roughly a third. Meanwhile, Republican voting has surged in Republican primaries and caucuses, compared to 2008.
Why?
1. Voter suppression: Republican-backed laws have raised barriers to voting among minorities and college students – requiring IDs, limiting absentee ballots, and reducing the number of polling places in Democratic precincts.
2. The Democratic National Committee scheduled far fewer debates among Democratic candidates than did the Republican National Committee, and often scheduled them at times when few people were watching television. The net result: Far less voter awareness about the Democratic issues and candidates.
3. Donald Trump’s incendiary candidacy has excited some Republicans who rarely if ever turn out for primaries and caucuses.
What do you think explains the drop in Democratic participation and the increase in Republican, relative to 2008?
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